Answers from the Divine Guru

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Answers from the Divine Guru

 

(Compiled from various meetings with Sri Sathya Sai Baba)

 

Question 1

Why are some people born more beautiful, or more intelligent, than

others are? Why does not God give everyone equal beauty, abilities

and talents?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

It is not God's partiality or fault. It is the human being who is

responsible. His actions, thoughts and words are responsible for all

good and bad. It is the mind that creates the differences. Pleasure

is an interval between two pains. It is the way you look at things

that matters.

 

There is a vast ocean of talents and qualities. All human beings

have vessels to fill. Some people, through their actions, are able

to fill the vessels to the brim; some fill only half; others can

fill only a quarter, or less. They possess intelligence, beauty,

talents, and etceteras, according to how much they can fill their

vessels.

 

You even judge beauty these days, as in Miss India, Miss World. But,

that is all physical beauty, which is transient. What is important

is the beauty of the atma (Self).

 

Question 2

How are good or bad actions carried into the next birth?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Swaasha (breath) carries the actions, for the breath stops when a

person dies. The body is still there after death and we call it a

corpse and burn it as useless. So, the body cannot carry anything

with it, just as a flower cannot carry its fragrance. It is a breeze

that wafts the scent of the flower and makes its fragrance reach

you. Similarly, imagine a municipal lorry, the breeze carries the

bad odour to you again! In the same manner, good and bad actions are

carried by the breath and surround you in the next birth like an

invisible garland. The pattern of your life is then governed by what

the garland has good or bad scent.

 

That is why man must understand that everything he does has a

reaction, a reverberation and a reflection. It is he who writes his

own destiny by his actions. It is essential for man to live a good

life with good thoughts and good actions. Only through such a life

can he realise the divinity in him. The concept Aham Brahmasmi (I am

Brahma = God) is also incorrect, since it indicates duality. Aham

(I) and Brahma (God) become separate. The statement ought to he Aham

Aham (I am I).

 

Question 3

Many people feel that Hindus worship countless gods. How did this

happen?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

India has a wonderful religious tradition. It has something for

everyone, to suit everyone's needs. Many people do not understand

this excellent idea and make derisory comments on our having too

many gods. This tradition has evolved to suit the needs of different

people, just as we have shirts of varying types and sizes to fit

different people. With the ideal of One God, there is only one shirt

and, if it does not fit or if it is unsuitable, people turn away

from God. But, here, if someone likes Krishna, they can worship

Krishna; others can worship Rama, or Narayana, or Shiva, or even

snakes and lions! What more do you need to propagate the idea that

God is in everything everywhere? That is why I often say don't

worship God as a picture, but worship the picture as God. This will

slowly lead to the realization of God in you. That is where the

Hindu spiritual path is practical and good.

 

Question 4

Why does not God prevent cruelties in the world?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

God is only a witness (saakshibhoota). He does not act. Man acts

according to the dictates of his intellect (buddhi) and himself

suffers the consequences of his actions (karma). There is neither

good nor bad for God. Take the knife as an example. A murderer uses

a knife to kill another man, a slaughterer uses a knife to slay

animals, a surgeon uses a knife to amputate, and a cook uses a knife

to chop vegetables. If a magnet is placed among all these knives, it

will attract them all equally and not according to the kind of tasks

they perform. God is like this magnet. All knives are the same to

Him. However, the hands that wield the knives have to bear the

consequences of their actions, dependent on right and wrong.

 

Question 5

When we have troubles and are in difficulties and we pray to God,

why does He not take them away'?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Troubles and difficulties are part and parcel of human life. They

are the results of your karmas. There is no point in praying to God

to wipe away all such troubles and difficulties. The right type of

prayer would be to ask God for courage and strength to bear all the

difficulties, problems and tragedy with equanimity.

 

Question 6

What is the difference between the politics of yesterday and those

of today?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

The present state of affairs can be described as the state of jumps

and bumps. Now, take the example of your body and limbs. Each limb

is important in forming the composite whole. All the limbs joined

together make up the body, which is the deha (body, person).

Similarly, in the desha (country, nation), every aspect should be

tended to, just as one takes care of every part of the body.

 

Question7

The view that women should not take ups Brahma vidya (spiritual

knowledge), nor chants the Omkara. Is this correct? Also, in ancient

times, were spiritual sadhanas (endeavours) forbidden to women?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Brahma vidya and chitta shuddhi (spiritual knowledge and purity of

consciousness) do not depend on whether a person is a man or a

woman. All have an equal right to benefit from Brahma vidya provided

only they are able to take it up with discipline and dedication. At

no time have there been any taboos against women. Lord Vishnu (the

Preserver) taught Bhu Devi (the Goddess Earth) the glory of the

Bhagavad- Gita. Parameshwara (Shiva) taught Parvati the Brahma tatva

(divine essence) through the Guru Gita. Ishwara (Shiva) initiated

Parvati into yoga shastra and mantra shastra (science of yoga and

science of mantra). The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad mentions

Yajnavalkya teaching Maitreyi the Brahma vidya. So, women in ancient

times were not denied the pursuit of spirituality.

 

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad mentions Ciargi and Maitreyi hasking in

the splendour of sannyasa (renunciation) and brahmacharya (celibacy,

chastity). Madaalasa Chudaala and others were able to receive Brahma

jnana (divine wisdom) while in the grahastha (householder, i.e.

married) stage of life. Even today, there are many that belong to

this vast category. It is sheer absurdity to deny women the right to

earn Brahma jnana. But, in worldly matters, it is necessary for them

to maintain certain limitations in the interests of dharma

(righteousness) and loka kalyana (the good of the people/world). For

the sake of safeguarding morality and for the social health of the

world, women have to accept some restrictions. This is not to say

that there is any fundamental inferiority in them.

 

Even pundits acquire their jnana through the reverential homage they

pay to the feminine deity Saraswati. The divine patrons of learning,

prosperity and wisdom are all feminine: Saraswati, Lakshmi and

Parvati. This should show the reverence paid to women.

 

Question 8

Why does Swami give gifts?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Gifts of rings and pendants are an expression of Swami's love... It

is not that Swami wants to draw people to him with gifts. When you

wish to show affection to your son, or if you want to make someone

happy, you make him a sports shirt or buy him a present, do you not?

Swami also wants to bring happiness in this manner.

 

Question 9

Does a gift also act as a protective talisman?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Yes! They are also like my visiting cards and send me instant

flashes when the person is in danger or in need of my help.

Sometimes, these gifts are made for specific reasons: for the sake

of a devotee's health, or I may give someone a gem stone so that

rays from it may constantly influence him or her to follow the right

path. I want to tell you that whatever Swami does has a purpose. He

never does anything without reason.

 

Question 10

Why does Swami give vibhuti?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Flowers, leaves, fruit and other edibles have a temporary life. Even

water breeds germs if kept in a vessel for days. Only vibhuti

remains unchanged, as it is the final result of the five elements of

creation. Our desires have to be reduced to ashes and vibhuti is

symbolic of this detachment and renunciation. One's mind has to

become desireless and detached like the ashes in which everything is

burnt out. It is that kind of pure mind that has to be offered to

God.

 

Question 11

Is it necessary to perform pujas (ritual worship) and ceremonies?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Everything depends on the individual concerned. Whatever he or she

does has to be done with faith and sincere devotion. God cannot be

fooled with mere ritual.

 

Question 12

What about ceremonies and rites for the dead? Is it wrong not to

perform them?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

This again depends on one's mental attitude. After a person leaves

the body, the soul takes birth and takes on a new body somewhere

else. You must know this. Upto now you must have had so many lives,

you must have been a mother and a daughter so very many times.

 

What is required really is gratitude to one's parents, by

remembering them on the day of their death. Though they may shed

these bodies in which they are your parents, you still owe them the

debts of having given birth to you and of having given you their

blood to give you your present form.

 

You can express this gratitude through the ceremonial shraadha rite,

or by any other method, even by thinking of them with sincere and

loving gratitude on the death anniversary. It is heartfelt feeling

that is important.

 

Question 13

Why doesn't God make people suffer for their sins in the same

lifetime? Why in other lives when they cannot know why they suffer?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Then how would you account for the punya (good deeds) they do? They

Have to enjoy the benefits of their punya, too! All that may not

always be Possible in one lifetime....

 

Question 14

Why does Swami have more restrictions for women? They do not have

easy access to Swami!

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Everyone has the same kind of access to Swami. This does not depend

on their being men or women. Everyone receives the same grace,

depending on their devotion, their need, or their work.

 

Question 14 (continued)

Swami may say so; that nevertheless women have more hurdles to

overcome when they want to convey something to Swami.

 

There are times when the man who stands next to me never catches my

attention, as hard as he may try; while a devotee sitting far away

in a corner amid a crowd easily catches it. It all depends on who

has to receive what and when. Everything happens according to that

will, not because of the physical form of man or woman.

 

Also these differences are visible to you at your level of

consciousness. For Swami, these are not differences that count. The

atma is not different in man or woman. The atma is eternally

conscious, pure and self-effulgent. The atma is neither masculine

nor feminine, nor yet neutral. It is only the body that limits,

deludes and wears names.

 

Question 15

What is the principal cause of all troubles and sorrow?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Attachment and ego are the main causes. Jealousy is another factor.

 

Question 16

How can jealousy be conquered?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

By having love for everyone, by thinking of others with love and

wishing them well. More than all, by realizing that jealousy is

physically most harmful. It does damage your internal system and,

later on, you will have to suffer the karma of the bad things caused

by your jealousy.

 

Question 17

Why has God created bad traits and negative tendencies in humans?

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

These are results of man's own actions. God is only a witness to

events. Human beings are themselves responsible for the good and the

bad in them. Remember that the things you do not do can never hurt

you.

 

Question 18

But Swami says that there is nothing good or bad!

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Yes! This is from God's point of view. For humans, this is a

relative matter, since what is good for one may be bad for another.

What is good at one time may be bad in another season. Good and bad

are thus two states take two fruits, phalam, which are good. Once

they are eaten and digested, they become excreta, malam, and that is

bad.

 

Question 19

Scientists say that something cannot he created out of nothing.

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Yes, hut what they think of, as nothing is really anything. There is

no nothingness in the Universe. The scientist makes such statements

because, with his limited vision, he cannot see all things or know

them.

 

Both science and spirituality begin as inquiry, a quest.

Spirituality comes full circle, like the letter O, while science

reaches the half circle stage, resembling a C. Science has a lot of

catching up to do, for it has only discovered a fraction of the

truth. It is like a small piece of cloth you can see protruding from

a fist: you can only conjecture about the whole, its looks and size,

for it is hidden and you cannot see it.

 

Question 20

But, science has made many advances flights to the moon and other

planets, for instance.

 

Sri Sathya Sai Baba:

Yes. Whatever science has done for humanity is to be welcomed, hut

it is still a growing and advancing field. Scientists used to say

that you couldnt split the atom and today that is no longer true.

The scientist learns as he progresses.

 

Today's investigations become old tomorrow and lead to new

investigations, which will become old the day after tomorrow. There

is no end to this, and so the truth lies in something that contains

within it both the old and the new. God alone envelops the old and

the new and so the best way to advance is Godward.

 

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